Agartala, September 22: A 1.7-km riverfront stretch along the Haora River was opened to the public on Tuesday as Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha inaugurated the Rs 96-crore Haora Riverfront Development Project in the heart of Agartala.
Developed under the Agartala Smart City Mission, the project extends from Steel Bridge to Dashamighat and aims to combine river conservation with recreational facilities and improved urban amenities.
Inaugurating the project, Saha said the Haora River is closely linked with Agartala’s history, heritage and urban growth, making its protection an important responsibility.
He said the riverfront had been developed as a public space catering to people across age groups, with facilities designed for recreation and leisure. According to the Chief Minister, the transformation would also add to the city’s overall beautification.
Saha said the project includes a five-year operation and maintenance mechanism, with the expenditure for the period incorporated into the overall project cost.
The Chief Minister also pointed to the environmental and safety aspects of the development, saying the strengthened riverbanks would help check erosion along the Haora and reduce related risks. He added that possibilities for extending the riverfront project would be explored in the future.
Saha recalled that the riverfront area had previously been associated with anti-social activities and said its conversion into a citizen-friendly public space represented a major change.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing Agartala under the Smart City Mission and said the initiative reflected the government’s focus on modern infrastructure and improved civic services.
During the programme, Saha also virtually inaugurated the newly developed Airport Road under the Agartala Smart City Mission and laid the foundation stone for a marriage hall intended to provide affordable facilities to economically weaker sections within the Agartala Municipal Corporation area.
The Chief Minister said the state government was pursuing various initiatives to improve public services and the quality of life of residents, while stressing the importance of socio-economic development alongside infrastructure growth.
Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder termed the occasion historic for the city and said the riverfront project would mark a new phase in Agartala’s urban development.
Majumder described the Haora as the “soul” of Agartala and said several initiatives were being taken to protect the river and improve its surrounding areas. He added that the civic body was upgrading urban management to meet changing requirements and residents’ expectations.
The Mayor also highlighted measures aimed at reducing traffic congestion and pollution. Ahead of Durga Puja, he said different departments were coordinating efforts to ensure safe and convenient celebrations and assured that road repair works across the city would be completed before the festivities.
A blood donation camp was also organised in connection with the inauguration.
Earlier, Saha and other dignitaries inspected the newly developed riverfront facilities before the formal programme began.
Deputy Mayor Monika Das Dutta, MLA Meena Rani Sarkar, Chief Minister’s Secretary Kiran Gitte, Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke, Agartala Smart City Mission CEO G.S. Naik, Municipal Commissioner Saju Wahid and senior officials were present.
